Summary

Most of the matter we are familiar with in everyday life comes in three states - solid, liquid, or gas. But much more of the matter in the universe exists in a fourth state known as plasma. Plasmas are gaseous collections of electrically charged particles such as electrons and protons. Stars are primarily composed of hot plasmas. On Earth, plasmas are formed in lightning strikes and produce light in fluorescent bulbs. They are used to inscribe patterns in computer chips and other electronics, and are at the heart of the most promising nuclear fusion devices that may someday lead to an abundance of cheap, clean, and safe power sources.

The APS Division of Plasma Physics Annual Meeting is the world’s largest yearly gathering of plasma physicists, with more than 1500 attendees presenting 1425 papers covering the latest advances in plasma-based research and technology.

Contact Information

James Riordon Head of Media Relations American Physical Society 301-209-3238riordon@aps.org